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Lecture series on Sustainability begins Oct. 8

Three-part fall lecture series is free and open to the public

9/30/13

UW-Fond du Lac is offering a three-part fall lecture series with the theme of “Sustainability.”

Tuesday, Oct. 8, “Plato’s Food Fight” – 12:30 p.m. in UC-114 (LGI Room) and 6:30 p.m. in A-219 (Henken Room). Eric Boos, philosophy professor, will discuss the relative difficulty we have as a culture developing a consistent and functional model of sustainability. As early as Plato, philosophers have shown that humans can "know" the right thing to do, and then not do it. Boos will use specific examples from our current food-culture to demonstrate how "unsustainable" we are and to suggest some courses of action to be more sustainable.

Tuesday, Oct. 22, “What Obsidians Can Tell Us About the Cultural Landscape” – 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in UC-114 (LGI Room). William Whitehead, anthropology lecturer, will talk about the science and anthropology of obsidian sourcing in San Pedro de Atacama, Northern Chile. The natural glass called obsidian has been used by humans to make artifacts where ever it is encountered on the landscape. It is almost the perfect lithic material to use when tracing human movement, trade, technology and landscape use. Learn more from an archaeological professional with over 20 years of experience in excavations, lab and the sub field of archaeometry.

Tuesday, Nov. 19, “Invasive Plant Species and Chemical Warfare” – 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in UC-114 (LGI Room). Presented by David Demezas, biological sciences professor, attendees will learn about plants that produce a myriad of compounds for different purposes including protection against herbivores and invasive processes. This may be one mechanism that allows invasive plant species to become established in new territories. Garlic mustard is a highly invasive plant species that is found in many different locations in Fond du Lac County. Results from undergraduate students' research projects on compounds from garlic mustard will be presented.